AUSTRALIAN government, on Wednesday expressed its readiness to collaborate with Osun government in ensuring agricultural revolution in the state, with a view to tackling poverty and create employment opportunities.
The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Lehmann made this disclosure during a courtesy call on Governor Rauf Aegbesola in his office at Bola Ige House, Abeere.
He expressed excitement on what he described as unprecedented the successes recorded by the Osun state government in all aspects governance.
Lehmann, who led other Australian representatives in Nigeria commended the social protection initiatives of Aregbesola’s government, a development, he noted had gone a long way in giving the people sense of belonging in the state.
He observed that with what he saw in Osun, “it is not a doubt that Osun has taken a bold step in bringing to the people the core dividends of democracy which government and governance stand to achieve”.
Lehmann further contended that “his tours to some of the projects already executed and completed by the Aregbesola’s government is a clear manifestation to the commitment which the state had made towards the development of humanity”.
According to him, “Osun governor has not only put into practice what government and governance represents, but also exhibited clearly the role expected of any serious government in consciously rebranding the society and make it liveable for the its people.
Lehmann who identified education, agriculture and security as major areas to which the state had invested hugely on stated that Osun has sincerely demonstrated that development could only be achieved in a society built on virile educational foundation.
“Educating young people will definitely revive the society and secure a better future for all because it is the only educated mind that advance the potentials of the society for the benefits of all. I have gone round the town. I have seen some of the interventions of this administration in all sectors most especially in education, agriculture and security”, the envoy remarked.
Lehmann continued, “Australia is vast in mining, sports, agriculture, husbandry and education and for this singular reason my visit has made me to see the need to strengthen cooperation with your government on education, agriculture and other sensitive areas.
In his remark, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola called for a symbiotic and collaborative partnership between Osun and Australian governments in mining, education, security and animal husbandry.
and then